Another 3c Small Queen Variety

Sorry for a bit of a double-post...I tacked this to the bottom of a previous post I had about a different 3c small queen variety but not sure if it got much attention...

I recently found an interesting 3c small queen variety on cover. I'm not sure if it would constitute a re-entry or an inking issue. There's a white line under the last 'A' in Canada, and some weak inking around the top backside of the queen's head (or is it doubling?)

Is anyone familiar with this particular variety?

Hi jjmclell...Dont confuse re-entries with under inking..try Ralphs web site for great information.

http://www.re-entries.com/

Robert

BTW..Welcome to the forum.

You can think about how the stamps were made to determine if you might have a re-entry.

Grooves, lines, and other depressions that would hold the ink for printing (the stamp image) were "entered" into the plate, usually from a transfer roller. If they went back and "re-entered" the image, some of the original lines might still remain. When the plate is inked, that ink would sit in those lines or grooves and then be transferred to the paper. Therefore, an entry or re-entry will appear as a line of color.

When printing, a number of things could cause a white area:
- Ink was never put into a groove or line
- The ink was removed from the groove or line when the excess ink was wiped off of the plate prior to printing
- The plate was worn out, so that there was no longer a depression for the ink to sit in.
- The ink did not properly adhere to the paper, which was moistened prior to printing (usual)

If the paper was too dry in some areas or the plate/paper pair did not receive enough pressure to transfer all of the ink, you end up with a white area.

I'd call what you're showing a minor dry printing or underinking.

Hope this helps.
C.

Much appreciated everyone. I was struggling with how anything white could be the result of a re-entry. I always get the engraving process mixed up because of the inversion of the image from the die to transfer roll to plate and where the ink rests etc. I clearly understand that this is an inking issue now.

Thanks!